Refrigerator and/or freezer

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and/or freezer with at least one body and at least one door or flap pivotable relative to the body, wherein the door or flap has a first region which is defined by a circumferential seal when the door or flap is closed, and wherein the door or flap has at least one second region located outside this first region, wherein in the second region at least one receiving element is arranged, in which one or more functional elements of the refrigerator and/or freezer are arranged.

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and/or freezer with at least one body and at least one door or flap pivotable relative to the body, wherein the door or flap has a first region which is defined by a circumferential seal when the door or flap is closed, and wherein the door or flap has at least one second region located outside this first region.

In such refrigerators and/or freezers a seal for the insulating termination of the cooling and/or freezing space usually is provided on the inside of the door or flap. Appliances are known from the prior art, in which the door has a protruding region which is located above or below the region defined by the circumferential seal. This protruding region can for example serve to cover a region of the body when the door or flap is closed, so that an optically appealing and uniform appearance of the appliance is obtained.

It is the object underlying the present invention to develop a refrigerator and/or freezer as mentioned above to the effect that the space available for accommodating functional elements, such as bearings, closing dampers and the like, is increased as compared to known appliances.

This object is solved by a refrigerator and/or freezer with the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, it is provided that in said second region, i.e. in the region which is not surrounded by a seal or is not in alignment with a region surrounded by the seal when the door or flap is closed, at least one receiving element is arranged, in which one or more functional elements of the refrigerator and/or freezer are arranged. The idea underlying the invention thus consists in utilizing said second region as a receiving region for one or more functional elements, which involves the advantage that the space in which these functional elements are accommodated in known appliances now is available for other uses. In accordance with the invention, the second region protruding beyond the first region, which is not utilized in known appliances, thus is used for the arrangement of one or more functional elements.

This receiving element can form a firm part of the door or flap or can also releasably be connected with the door, for example by a positive connection, by a screw connection or also by a bonded connection and the like.

The receiving element can for example be configured as a plastic part, in which regions are arranged in which the or said functional elements can be accommodated in a suitable way.

Materials other than plastics can of course also be used.

It is conceivable, for example, that the receiving element includes at least one recess in which a bearing or parts of a bearing are accommodated for the pivotable arrangement of the door or flap.

It is also conceivable that the receiving element includes one or more regions in which means for influencing the movement of the door or flap are arranged. These can be closing dampers, closing aids, etc.

Furthermore, it can be provided that in the receiving element one or more regions are arranged in which electronic components and/or means for the power and/or data supply of a load arranged in the door or flap, in particular of a display, are arranged. It is conceivable, for example, to arrange a cable guide, a space for a plug connection of the cable or also for a controller of a load, for its power supply etc., in the receiving element.

To be able to optimally utilize said second region, it is preferably provided that the receiving element has a length which substantially corresponds to the width or height of the door or the flap.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the receiving element has a depth which substantially corresponds to the depth of the door or the flap.

The receiving element can extend in vertical direction, for example above and/or below the first region of a door or for example also laterally of the first region of a flap.

However, the invention is not restricted thereto. In principle, it is likewise conceivable to also vertically arrange the receiving elements for example in a door, so that they extend for example parallel to the axis of rotation of the door and on one side or on both sides beside the first region.

Further details and advantages of the invention will now be explained in detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1: shows a perspective view of the upper end region of a door of a refrigerator and/or freezer with a plug-in part arranged above the seal, and

FIG. 2: shows a perspective view of the plug-in part in the demounted condition.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 designates the door of a refrigerator and/or freezer in its upper portion from the inside facing the cooling space. At its top and bottom, the door is pivotally accommodated with one bearing 20 each on a non-illustrated body of the appliance.

Reference numeral 40 designates a circumferential seal which in the closed condition of the door 10 rests against an end face of the body and in this way terminates the region to be cooled. The seal 40 is formed around and defines a first region 16 located within the sealing region. Above this region 16, the second region 18 is located in the embodiment shown here, i.e. the region which is not directly adjacent to the cooling and/or freezing space when the door or flap is closed. Thus, the region 18 protrudes beyond the region 16 and for example conceals an end-face body region when the door 10 is closed.

As can be taken from FIG. 1, the bearing 20 is located in the second region 18. In the second region 18, a receiving element 50 configured as plug-in part is located, which is shown in FIG. 2. In its two end regions, the receiving element 50 includes receptacles 14, 14′ for receiving the bearing 20. The receiving element 50 is configured as plastic part, which can be inserted in the second region 18 above the region 16 surrounded by the seal, as can be taken from FIG. 1.

The receiving element 50 includes a space or cavity into which various functional elements can be inserted. As an example, means for influencing the closing behavior, such as closing dampers, closing aids of the door should be mentioned, as they are designated by the reference numeral 80 in FIG. 1. A further example is the receptacle of a cable 30, which partly also is located in the region formed by the receiving element 50, as can be taken from FIG. 1.

The bearing 20 consists of a pivot pin, which extends vertically downwards from the bearing bracket 21 which is stationarily arranged on the body of the appliance. The pivot pin is rotatably mounted in a bearing bush 22 which is not firmly connected with the door, but can be removed from the same. The connection between the receptacle 14, 14′ of the receiving element 50 and the bearing bush 22 thus is of the releasable type. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the bearing bush 22 is plugged into the respective end face 12 of the door 10 from above or at the bottom of the door from below. As can furthermore be taken from FIG. 1, the cable extends over the bearing bracket 21, over the non-illustrated pivot pin extending from the bearing bracket 21 and over the bearing bush 22. The cable 30 is guided in the bearing bush 22 such that it always exits from the bearing bush 22 in a defined position independent of the angle of rotation of the door.

As can be taken from FIG. 2, guideways 15, 15′ are located in the receptacles 14, 14′, which extend parallel to the plug-in direction of the bearing bush 22 and prevent the bearing bush 22 from rotating in the recesses 14, 14′. Furthermore, the shape of the bearing bush 22 and of the receptacles 14, 14′ prevents a rotation of the bush 22 in the receptacles 14, 14′.

The receiving element 50 can be arranged above or below the first region 16 of the door 10 and/or also beside this region 16.

In its end region located in the door 10, the cable 30 includes a plug part 32. The same is releasably connected with a further plug part of a cable portion, which leads for example to a display in the door. In the embodiment shown here, the cable portion guided over the bearing 20 is releasably connected with a display or the like or with a cable arranged thereon.

If the stop should be changed proceeding from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this is comparatively easily possible in accordance with the invention in that the bearing bush 22 with cable 30 and plug part 32 is removed from the recess and is then positioned on the other side of the door with the bearing bracket and pivot pin and is again plugged in there. Subsequently, the cable 30 can again be connected via the plug connection 32.

The present invention provides for expediently utilizing the region 18 of the door or flap protruding beyond said first region 16. The second region 18 can extend above, below and/or also beside the first region 16. 

1. A refrigerator and/or freezer with at least one body and at least one door (10) or flap pivotable relative to the body, wherein the door (10) or flap has a first region which is defined by a circumferential seal (40) when the door (10) or flap is closed, the door (10) or flap has at least one second region (18) located outside this first region (16), and in the second region (18) at least one receiving element (50) is arranged, in which one or more functional elements of the refrigerator and/or freezer are arranged.
 2. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element (50) forms a firm part of the door (10) or flap.
 3. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element (50) is releasably connected with the door (10) or flap.
 4. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element (50) is connected with the door (10) or flap by a positive connection, in particular by a plug connection.
 5. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element (50) is connected with the door (10) or flap by a bonded connection.
 6. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element (50) includes at least one recess (14, 14′) in which a bearing (20) or parts of a bearing (20) are accommodated.
 7. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element (50) includes at least one region in which means (80) for influencing the movement of the door (10) or flap are arranged.
 8. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element (50) includes at least one region in which electronic components and/or means for the power and/or data supply of a load arranged in the door (10) or flap, in particular of a display, are arranged.
 9. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element (50) has a length which substantially corresponds to the width or height of the door (10) or the flap.
 10. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element (50) has a depth which substantially corresponds to the depth of the door (10) or the flap.
 11. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element (50) extends in vertical or horizontal direction.
 12. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein in the case of a door (10) the second region (18) extends above and/or below the first region (16) and in the case of a flap on one side or on two sides beside the first region.
 13. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 3, wherein the receiving element (50) is connected with the door (10) or flap by a positive connection, in particular by a plug connection.
 14. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 2, wherein the receiving element (50) is connected with the door (10) or flap by a positive connection, in particular by a plug connection.
 15. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 14, wherein the receiving element (50) is connected with the door (10) or flap by a bonded connection.
 16. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 13, wherein the receiving element (50) is connected with the door (10) or flap by a bonded connection.
 17. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 12, wherein the receiving element (50) is connected with the door (10) or flap by a bonded connection.
 18. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 4, wherein the receiving element (50) is connected with the door (10) or flap by a bonded connection.
 19. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 3, wherein the receiving element (50) is connected with the door (10) or flap by a bonded connection.
 20. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 2, wherein the receiving element (50) is connected with the door (10) or flap by a bonded connection. 